The voice on the phone wasn't familiar, but my heart was in my throat after she said what she said.

"Hello...is this Jason Schuyler?""Who wants to know?""My name is Millicient Harper. I work for your mother. Mr. Schuyler...your mother...""What...what's happened?""She's dying and...there's not much time. She's asking for you."

I was on a flight within the hour.

I spent sleepless nights feeding my mother ice ships as Millie administered morphine for her pain. Long, draining days were spent cleaning my mother as though she were an infant and feeding her like one, too. She faded quickly and painfully and my heart broke each day for the strong woman who taught me to tie my shoes, brush my teeth, and to distinguish right from wrong.

I spent the last day by her side, reading her favorite book, Wuthering Heights, to her. She slid her hand into mine, looking into my eyes and said, "JJ, baby, I love you. And no matter who or what you become in this life...I will always...always be proud of you." I swallowed back the tears, found my voice, and told her, "Mama, you are my hero and I'm thankful everyday that I am lucky enough to have you as my mom and role model." She died with the tears wet on her cheeks and still hot on mine.

The plane touched down without incident and I made my way home. The apartment was dark and quiet when I arrived and crawled into bed. The next morning I took a hot shower and went in search of breakfast. After four bowls of Fruity Pebbles, I threw on some clothes and went down to Angel's office, hoping I still had a job.

I showed up at the apartment and found a key waiting at the front desk for me with a note that said to make myself at home. I rode the elevator up and marveled at the architecture of the building. It was an amazing structure. And if someone thought the outside was beautiful they would be blown away by the inside. I stepped onto the 18th floor and made my way to the apartment.

Alec was right, the apartment was huge. The bedrooms were on opposite ends of the apartment and each had their own bathrooms. If we had different schedules there was a high possibility it would be like living alone. With some of the money Jean-Claude had loaned me I'd spent the afternoon shopping for a bed, dresser, beside table, desk, and desk chair. I'd also found a nice chair for lounging while reading a book on a lazy day. I could read here without people raising their eyebrow thinking to themselves 'the stripper has a brain?'

I shook off that thought as the doorbell rang letting me know the delivery guys with my furniture were there. I let them in and within 15 minutes my room was fully furnished. I made the bed and put away what little belongings I owned and then at down in the chair and stared out into the city. I had a good feeling about this place. I knew it would be right for me.

I could see into the heart of the woods that lay inside Centennial Park and my beast began to stir. It had been almost a week since I'd been on a good hunt and I'd smelled the deer in the woods just before I'd met Alec. After one last glance at the new apartment, I left and made my way to the park. My beast couldn't be denied much longer and I was itching to release it.

Walking through the shadows in the park, I was able to woods without anyone seeing me. I stood at the trees and took in a deep scent of them. Leaning my head back, I used every breath in me and howled at the top of my lungs. The sound that came out of my lungs was pure beast and it ached to break free of my skin and run free. I held it at bay long enough to find a place for hiding my clothes and bathing in the morning after the change.

Kneeling on all fours naked it took only seconds for the beast to break free. Howling again with a completely inhuman throat, I made my way quickly through the woods in the hunt of fresh meat. After scenting and taking down a deer and feeding contentedly for a while, I heard a noise on the air that sounded suspiciously like someone in pain. I turned my ear to the wind and heard it again and I knew instantly it was a woman screaming for help.

I left the carcass behind and slowly crept through the woods to the screaming. She was in the leaves and grass, a tiny girl being over-powered by a man twice her size. He was hitting her and tearing her clothes from her body almost simultaneously. Rage coursed through my body and I knew I had to stop him, but I couldn't do it looking like this. I summoned every ounce of power and energy inside and forced myself to change back to my human form.

I was naked and still had some blood smears on my face and hands, but I ran over to the girl smashing my body against her attacker, knocking him away from her. I handed her the torn remains of her blouse when I felt someone or something hit me from behind.

It's a scary feeling moving to a new city, away from all the people you've ever known, away from the comfort of your favorite hangouts, and away from the only place you've ever called home. But over that layer of fear is an overwhelming sense of freedom. After what I'd started referring to as the incident happened, I wasn't sure exactly where I could go. Then I heard some of the newer vampires and weres talking about this place called New Metropolis. I did some research on the city and knew that's where I belonged. A brand new city was the perfect place for a brand new Jason...so away I went.

Being a werewolf helps with that nagging sense of fear that moving to a place where I have no job, no friends, and no place to live can give a person. But seeing as how I could rip things apart with my bare hands, the fear just doesn't seem all that big or bad. Having preternatural strength is so cool.

I needed to find a job and a place to live and fast. Jean Claude, my old...very old, boss, gave me some start-up money, which I planned on paying back ASAP. As I walked through the brand spanking new city with all the help wanted signs, I knew it wouldn't take me long to repay his generosity.

I bought myself a coke and a smile...and a hot dog and kept walking down the sidewalk, enjoying the sleek store fronts and modern skyscrapers. I enjoyed a little harmless flirting with a woman, legs up to her neck and a butt that wouldn't quit. I helped her carry a television across the street, making sure to pretend it was at least a little heavy. She gave me her number, a kiss on the cheek and her 'eternal gratitude'.

I made a mental note to definitely give her a call, when I noticed a "DANCERS WANTED" sign in front of a place called The Kitty Kat Rave Club. I got a closer look and realized that it was my kind of place: a strip club. Now, whether or not it was a strip club for men or women remained to be seen. I tried the door, but it was locked, so I wrote the number down to call about possibly getting a job.

I headed back in the direction of the hotel I'd stayed in for the past two nights. On my way, I realized that I didn't want to spend the rest of the day there, so I headed toward Centennial Park. Making my way through the park toward a set of trees, I took a deep breath and let the scents of the park wash over my senses. I smelled grass and leaves and the thick tang of dirt. I could smell people and deer. There were deer in the woods here. I felt my beast stir and growled softly under my breath. This would be the perfect hunting ground, I thought to myself.

I took another breath to steady myself because I knew my eyes were no longer their normal sky blue color, but instead had bled to a startling green. It was a shade, or three lighter, than holiday Easter grass. I ignored the sweet smell of flesh, and settled down on a bench to relax and enjoy the day. People watching was one of my favorite past-times.